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Definition of adobo

adobo

/əˈdoʊ.boʊ/
a · do · bo

Plural:adobos
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adobo Lexical Profile

adobo Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A popular Philippine dish consisting of meat, seafood, or vegetables marinated and simmered in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns.

Example

"For dinner, she prepared a hearty chicken adobo served over a mound of steamed white rice."


2

A traditional Spanish and Latin American marinade, sauce, or seasoning mixture typically containing ingredients such as paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar, used to preserve and flavor raw meat.

Example

"The chef rubbed the pork shoulder with a rich, smoky adobo before leaving it to roast slowly in the oven."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for adobo

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'adobo' universally relates to culinary preparation, it denotes two distinct things depending on the culture: a specific, renowned national dish in the Philippines, and a base seasoning rub or marinade in Spanish and Latin American cuisines.

• Rhymes for adobo

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish 'adobo' (marinade, seasoning), which derives from the verb 'adobar' (to marinate or pickle). This ultimately traces back to the Old French 'adober' (to equip or prepare).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Adobo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/adobo
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